Doha summit launches climate damage aid

But it is only an agreement in principle. No money was committed, and even a promise to do so was left out of the final text. Edward Davey, the UK's secretary of state for energy and climate change, said it was "far too early" to talk about committing money. "We aren't saying there should be compensation," he said.

The slow progress so far on cutting emissions is making dangerous climate change almost certain, say researchers. Studies have repeatedly shown that it is cheaper to pay to cut emissions now than it is to pay for the consequences later, and the island states in particular hoped a deal would create an incentive for rich nations to renew efforts to reduce emissions. The Doha deal is "a positive step forward" on this path, says Harjeet Singh of ActionAid in New Delhi, India.

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